HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

YOU KNOW IT'S FUNNY!

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT TIME TRICK-OR-TREATING WITH YOUR LITTLE MONSTERS OR GET TO SEE ALL THESE CUTE BABIES WHILE YOU GIVE OUT CANDY. KIDS ARE JUST SO EXCITED ON HALLOWEEN I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT BE EXCITED TOO. MAYBE THE BOYS WILL AGREE TO "REDISTRIBUTE" SOME OF THEIR CANDY TO DAD AND I. :-)

IT'S A LITTLE EARLY FOR FACIAL HAIR!

THE BOYS WANTED TO PRETEND THEY WERE POLICEMEN ONE AFTERNOON AND MASON SAID HE WANTED A MUSTACHE TO ENHANCE HIS CHARACTER.:-) OF COURSE, LITTLE BROTHER WAS NEXT IN LINE. THEY PUT THEIR BADGES ON AND THEIR GUNS IN THEIR BELTS WHILE THEY CHASED THE BAD GUYS IN THE BACK YARD. THEY STOPPED LONG ENOUGH TO LET ME SNAP A FEW PHOTOS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANDREW!

MY LITTLE ROO TURNS 5 TODAY. I CAN'T BELIEVE HE IS ALREADY SO BIG. HE WOKE UP THIS MORNING IN HIS NEW LIGHTNING MCQUEEN PAJAMA'S (THANK YOU AUNT WAWEE!) STILL RUBBING HIS EYES AND SAID, "AM I FIVE YET?" THIS LITTLE STINKER CAN'T WAIT TO BE BIG. I THINK THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH BEING THE YOUNGEST. I KNOW THAT FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE! YOU JUST CAN'T WAIT TO DO ALL THE THINGS YOUR OLDER SIBLINGS GET TO DO.

NOW I WANT TO YOU FIVE THINGS ABOUT ANDREW SINCE HE IS A BIG FIVER NOW!

1. ANDREW HAS A VERY CONTAGIOUS LAUGH. YOU CAN'T LISTEN TO HIM REALLY LAUGH ABOUT SOMETHING AND NOT GIGGLE A LITTLE YOURSELF...EVEN WHEN IT MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE. LET'S JUST SAY HE HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, EVEN THOUGH IT WILL EMBARRASS YOU IN PUBLIC!

2. HE IS FULL OF ENERGY! THAT ENERGY USUALLY COMES OUT OF HIS LITTLE BODY IN THE FORM OF JUMPING, CLIMBING, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, LOTS OF CONVERSATION!

3. HE LOVES TO SNUGGLE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. ANDREW AND I ARE THE EARLY BIRDS IN THIS NEST. IT IS A GREAT START TO MY MORNING WHEN I AM FINISHING MY QUIET TIME AND I SEE HIM WALK DOWN THE HALL TOWARD ME TO CRAWL UP IN MY LAP AND SNUGGLE WHILE I DRINK MY COFFEE.

4. ANDREW TAKES AFTER MOMMY IN THE EATING DEPARTMENT. HE LOVES JUST ABOUT ANYTHING AND WILL TRY ANYTHING. IT IS FUN TO COOK FOR A KID LIKE THAT! WE ENJOY LOTS OF THINGS THAT MARK AND MASON WON'T GIVE A SECOND LOOK. HE LIKES TO HELP ME IN THE KITCHEN AND IS SO HAPPY EATING WHAT HE HELPS COOK. THERE MUST BE A FOOD NETWORK SHOW IN HIS FUTURE.

5. THIS KID ADORES HIS BIG BROTHER! HE MAY ANTAGONIZE HIM SOMETIMES BUT HE TRULY LOVES EVERYTHING ABOUT MASON. HE CAN'T WAIT TO BE WITH HIM WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN APART FOR THE SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF TIME. I CAN FIND HIM IN MASON'S BED A LOT OF MORNINGS TOO. I LOVE THE BOND I SEE FORMING BETWEEN THEM AND PRAY THAT IT ONLY GROWS STRONGER.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MR. ROO! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND ENJOY HAVING YOU IN OUR LIVES MORE EVERY DAY. YOU ARE SUCH A BLESSING! :-)

IMAGINATION STATION!

These crazy boys I live with just keep me laughing! Here is the latest.

When I picked Andrew up from Preschool last week he was so excited about giving something to his brother that he made. He showed me a plain piece of blue construction paper with two corners cut off so proudly. His smile could not be contained. He kept saying, "I can't wait to give it to Bubba, he is going to laugh." I could see his little smile and giggles in the rear view mirror the entire way to the elementary school. I did not want to discourage his excitement by asking what in the world was so funny about plain blue construction paper with corners cut off, but finally I did say, "Why is it funny?"

He said, "It's underwear, Mom!"

Once again, what was I thinking?

OK, big irritation of mine! Does congressional staff that does not office permanently in the town really need reserved parking right next to the handicap spaces?

In the town where I office primarily, part of the post office building houses a congressional office that is sometimes occupied by the local congressman's staff. This building has limited parking and is quite busy during several times each day.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind parking in Timbuktu to go into the post office. What bothers me is when I see an elderly man have to park way in the back and walk with his packages to the front door while this parking place sits empty or is used by "congressional staff" occasionally. UGH! Where is the servant leadership mentality here? In any business I have ever worked the employees always park in the far reaches of the parking lot and leave the convenient parking for the customer. I think this concept is lost in this case? Am I just a grumpy complainer or am I on a subject that gets you a little irritated too? On that note...Early voting is open so do your part to keep America what our forefathers sacrificed, faught, and died to leave to us!

MURPHY'S LAWS OF MOTHERHOOD

AS EVERY MOTHER KNOWS THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE JUST GOING TO BE OUT OF OUR CONTROL SO WE MAY AS WELL SURRENDER YOUR CONTROL FREAK NATURE (I AM DEFINITELY INCLUDING MYSELF IN THIS CATEGORY) AND FIND THE IRONY AND HUMOR IN EACH SITUATION THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO BANG YOUR HEAD ON THE WALL. HERE ARE A FEW SITUATIONS THAT FIT THIS DESCRIPTION FROM MY HOUSE:

1. WHEN YOU DO BEND THE RULES AND ALLOW CHILDREN TO EAT IN THE DEN IN FRONT OF THE TV FOR MOVIE NIGHT, SOMETHING WILL INDEED BE SPILLED ON THE CARPET.
2. THE ONE TIME YOU ALLOW YOUR 4 YEAR OLD TO RIDE HIS BIKE WITHOUT A HELMET HE WILL LOOSE HIS BALANCE , FALL AND SPLIT HIS EYE BROW REQUIRING AN EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT. IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT YOU WERE ONLY LETTING HIM TRY OUT HIS NEW BIKE BY RIDING TO THE END OF THE STREET WITH HIS DAD RIDING RIGHT BESIDE HIM ON HIS BIKE. WE LEARNED THIS LAW WITH THE FIRST CHILD. POOR THING, HE HAD TO BE OUR TEST CHILD FOR EVERYTHING!
3. IF YOU TELL YOUR 4 YEAR OLD TO GET DRESSED BEFORE HIS DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT BUT DO NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY, "PUT ON UNDERWEAR", DON'T BE SURPRISED WHEN THE NURSE PULLS DOWN HIS SHORTS TO GIVE HIM A VACCINATION AND DISCOVERS THAT HE LIKES TO GO COMMANDO!
4. IF YOU FINALLY TAKE YOUR BEAUTIFUL WHITE DOWN COMFORTER OFF OF YOUR BED, TAKE IT TO THE LAUNDRY MAT TO USE THE BIG COMMERCIAL FRONT LOAD WASHER AND LARGE DRYER TO CARE FOR IT PROPERLY, THEN PLACE IT BACK ON YOUR BED AND ENJOY THAT CLEAN FRESH SMELL, A CHILD WILL COME IN YOUR ROOM TO TELL YOU THAT THEY WANT TO LAY WITH YOU BECAUSE THEIR TUMMY HURTS. THEN A FEW HOURS LATER THEY WILL WAKE YOU AND TELL YOU, "MOM, I HAD A LITTLE POO POO ACCIDENT BUT I CHANGED MY UNDERWEAR MYSELF". NEEDLESS TO SAY, YOUR COMFORTER IS NOT SO FRESH ANYMORE!
5. NOW ONE FOR THE DAD'S. IF YOU ARE INDEED THE PARENT THAT HAS TO TAKE A SICK 2 YEAR OLD TO THE DOCTOR, DO NOT WEAR ELASTIC WASTE SWEAT PANTS WITHOUT SECURING THE DRAW STRING. WHILE YOU ARE STANDING AT THE OFFICE WINDOW GIVING INSURANCE INFORMATION, YOUR SICK AND CRANKY CHILD WILL WANT TO BE HELD AND WILL PULL AT YOUR PANTS. YOU WILL MOON ALL THE MOTHERS SITTING IN THE WAITING AREA. IF THIS DOES HAPPEN TO YOU, DON'T TELL YOUR WIFE. SHE WILL LAUGH ABOUT IT FOREVER AND POST IT ON THE FAMILY BLOG. WE ALL KNOW IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO HER, THE SICK CHILD WOULD NEVER HAVE SEEN THE DOCTOR THAT DAY AND WE WOULD HAVE CHANGED PEDIATRICIANS IMMEDIATELY!

BUT NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE LAWS OF MOTHERHOOD THAT WE THANK GOD FOR EVERYDAY...

1. WHEN YOU HAVE A LONG, HARD DAY AND FEEL UNAPPRECIATED FOR ALL YOU DO, YOUR LITTLE BOY WILL HUG YOU SO TIGHT WHEN YOU PICK HIM UP FROM PRE-SCHOOL AND GIVE YOU A HANDFUL OF ROCKS HE PICKED OUT FOR YOU ON THE PLAYGROUND BECAUSE HE THOUGHT YOU WOULD THINK THEY WERE PRETTY.
2. WHEN YOU WATCH YOUR CHILD IN A SCHOOL PERFORMANCE THAT YOU WERE SURPRISED HE TRIED OUT FOR BECAUSE HE CAN TEND TO BE SHY SOMETIMES, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP SMILING EVEN IF YOU TRIED. YOU'LL LOOK OVER AT DAD HOLDING THE VIDEO CAMERA AND SEE THAT SAME SMILE ON HIS FACE.
3. IF YOU HAVE A HEADACHE AND ARE TRYING TO LAY DOWN FOR A BIT TO SEE IF A LITTLE NAP WILL CLEAR IT UP, YOUR CHILDREN WILL BRING YOU THINGS TO HELP YOU FEEL BETTER. THINGS LIKE A GLASS OF WATER, A PIECE OF HARD CANDY THAT IS GREEN AND "TASTE LIKE A LEAF SO IT MUST BE MEDICINE", THEIR FAVORITE BLANKET OR STUFFED ANIMAL. THESE THINGS DO MORE TO HELP YOUR HEADACHE THAN THE IBUPROFEN DID!
4. THOSE HOMEMADE CARDS YOU GET FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY ARE YOUR FAVORITES AND YOU WILL SAVE THEM FOREVER.
5. AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU ARE SPENT AND ARE TUCKING YOUR BABIES IN BED JUST WAITING FOR A MINUTE TO SIT DOWN AND RELAX, YOUR CHILD WILL ASK FOR ONE MORE STORY. YOU REALLY WANT SOME DOWN TIME BUT YOU DECIDE TO BEND THE RULES AND READ ONE MORE WHEN THE BOOK HE ASKS FOR IS RUNAWAY BUNNY. WHAT MOM DOES NOT LOVE TO READ THAT ONE WITH HER BABY OVER AND OVER!

ROCK ON, ROO!

A NIP IS IN THE AIR...IS FALL FINALLY HERE?

I WAS SO HAPPY TO WAKE UP ONE MORNING THIS WEEK AND HAVE TO WEAR A JACKET ON MY MORNING WALK! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE FALL! LEAVES CHANGING, FOOTBALL GAMES, SWEATERS, SOUP AND CHILI IN THE CROCK POT, PICKING OUT PUMPKINS AND COSTUMES FOR TRICK OR TREATING, I LOVE IT ALL.

DON'T GET ME WRONG, I WILL BE THE VERY FIRST WIMP TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WEATHER GETTING COLD. I LIKE THE CRISP AIR IN THE FALL, NOT COLD WEATHER. MY HUSBAND TRIED TO MAKE ME A TOUGH MIDWESTERNER YEARS AGO. WE SPENT ONE WINTER IN KANSAS AND IT SNOWED, AND SNOWED, AND SNOWED. I THOUGHT IT WAS BEAUTIFUL THE FIRST TIME OR TWO. AFTER THAT, IT LOST IT'S MAGIC FOR ME. I DID NOT ENJOY THANKSGIVING WHEN IT WAS EIGHT DEGREES BELOW ZERO. WHO CAN PLAY A GAME OF TOUCH FOOTBALL IN THAT WEATHER? NO, I'M A SOUTHERN GIRL THROUGH AND THROUGH. BUT THIS SOUTHERN GIRL IS READY FOR FALL WEATHER TO STAY. AS LONG AS IT STAYS ABOVE 45-50 DEGREES, I WILL BE A HAPPY GIRL.

NOW I MUST BE THINKING OF A GREAT FALL DISPLAY FOR OUR YARD. I LOVE TO DO A LITTLE SOMETHING LIKE SCARECROWS, BALES OF HAY, PUMPKINS AND MUMS...YOU KNOW THE USUAL.

BUT THIS YEAR I'D LIKE TO PEP THINGS UP A LITTLE.

YOU KNOW...

ADD A LITTLE ZING

TO THE STANDARD FALL DECOR.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? CLASSY, HUH! I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE STUFF TOGETHER AND PUT THIS IN THE YARD OF THE HOUSE WE ARE REMODELING...RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO MY DEAR FRIEND KIMMI! SHE WILL LOVE IT AND ALL THE ATTENTION IT WILL BRING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD! MAYBE I SHOULD JUST PUT IT IN HER YARD INSTEAD...WHAT DO YOU THINK?